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A True Pearl

Caretta on the Gulf | By Ronda Parag

Serving as the resort’s main restaurant, Caretta offers breakfast, lunch and dinner with seating available inside or out. Sundays are extra special with a stunning brunch complete with a wide selection of raw bar items, sushi and even a bloody mary bar. The open interior space offers rich, dark woods and deep colors for a romantic dinner setting with a spectacular sunset view. The menu changes several times a year and

uses the freshest seasonal items available with offerings from local farmers’ markets. A recent find of figs led Jordan to include several fig starters on the menu, including a fig wrapped in prosciutto with blue cheese foam and another doused with apricot smear.

Upon entering, first up is the sushi, ceviche and raw bar serving up the freshest local catches and offering a variety of rolls, oysters, and shrimp. The ceviche bar includes snapper, scallop and tuna or a tasting of ceviche with all three. For a starter, the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake contained large pieces of sweet, delicious crab with no fillers, atop a pequillo pepper purée, chipotle-lime crema and citrus salad. The Heirloom Tomato and Mozzarella salad provides a wonderful start with fried mozzarella balls served next to the heirloom tomato, arugula and finished with balsamic.

Dinner entrées are infused with South American and Caribbean flavors and include fresh local seafood, aged beef and a selection of organic and natural dishes. Many of the side dishes include organic vegetables grown locally in Sarasota at Global Organics. The wine list is extensive and offers wines by the glass or bottle.

Desserts are dreamy with a choice of key lime ginger bruleé, warm chocolate cake, caramelized banana pillow or assorted sorbets. A delicious finale to a delightful dinner.